As students vote in the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections Thursday to elect their representatives in the university body, the imprint of national politics on these polls could not be missed. Several senior leaders of the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress from different states descended on the DU campus to take part in the electioneering in the run-up to the polls.
While the BJP leaders campaigned for the candidates of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the RSS’ student wing, to “defeat desh-virodhis (anti-nationals)”, the Congress leaders appealed to students to back the party-affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI)’s nominees to “bring a change in the country”.
Most of these BJP and Congress leaders, who participated in the campaigning, hail from Delhi’s neighbouring states such as Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The counting of votes in the polls is scheduled for September 19.
During the campaign for the DUSU polls, the BJP’s third-term MP from Delhi Northeast Manoj Tiwari on Tuesday attended Purvanchal Spandan programme in Ramjas College, along with Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, UP Minister Dayashankar Singh and UP BJP MLA Shalabh Mani Tripathi.
Addressing students, Manoj Tiwari appealed to them to support the ABVP, saying that as the local MP he would release funds for them. Tiwari said, “Aapka ek vote ABVP ko jitakar desh-virodhiyon ke parkhachchey udaane ka kaam karega. (Your vote will make ABVP win and defeat anti-nationals). He sung a song in support of the ABVP candidates. He also issued a video appeal urging students to vote in the national interest.
Vijay Kumar Sinha engaged in a dialogue with students, canvassing for the ABVP candidates. “During this student election, it is essential that we strengthen our identity and resolve to free ourselves from anarchy and anti-national mindset. Along with that, the values of culture, discipline, patriotism, and responsibility towards society will propel us forward,” he said.
Union Minister of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar, Faridabad MP, on Tuesday issued a video appeal to DU students, appealing to them to vote for the ABVP candidates.
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Rajasthan Minister and BJP veteran Kirodi Lal Meena attended “Marukaantaar Spandan 3.0” event in Ramjas College Tuesday, seeking votes for the ABVP candidates. Calling himself a “jawan” at his age of 72 years, he urged DU students, especially those hailing from Rajasthan, to vote with the spirit of “rashtra pratham” (nation first), and elect a DUSU leadership which, he added, would be committed for the welfare of students and nation and “preserve the culture”.
Delhi Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh also issued an appeal in support of the ABVP panel of candidates so that they could win and “connect” the Delhi university with development being undertaken by the BJP-led governments in Delhi and at the Centre.
In the DUSU polls, the ABVP has fielded Aryan Maan for the president’s post, Govind Tanvar for vice- president, Kunal Choudhary for secretary, and Deepika Jha for the joint secretary’s position.
To campaign in support of the NSUI panel, the Congress’ Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda on Tuesday toured the university’s South Campus. The NSUI candidates include Joslyn Nandita Choudhary for the president’s position, Rahul Jhansla for vice-president, Kabir for secretary, and Lavkush Bhadana for the joint secretary’s post.
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Hooda also issued a video appeal in support of Joslyn, especially appealing to students belonging to Delhi rural, Haryana, Rajasthan and western UP to support her and other NSUI candidates. He highlighted that Lavkush Bhadana hails from Faridabad, urging students from Haryana to consider him as their “own candidate”.
On the eve of the polling, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Devender Yadav on Wednesday assigned responsibility to the party unit leaders for campaigning for the DUSU polls. On Tuesday, he had held a meeting in support of the NSUI candidates, in which state in-charge and Uttarakhand MLA Qazi Nizamuddin was also present.
Devender held such meetings in different parts of Delhi, including Yamuna Vihar, Britannia Chowk, also holding a “chai pe charcha” with senior NSUI leaders to finalise strategies for the DUSU polls.
AICC general secretary and former Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot on Monday visited Miranda College, Campus Law Centre and Hindu College to campaign for the NSUI panel. He was accompanied by the party’s Ladnun (Rajasthan) MLA Mukesh Bhakar.
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Speaking to the media, Pilot said that everyone on the campus was aware about the performance of the BJP governments. “People want change in the country,” he said.
UP Congress president Ajay Rai on Wednesday released a video message, appealing to the students from Purvanchal, especially from UP and Bihar, to support the NSUI panel. He was slated to visit Kirori Mal College on Tuesday but called it off in the wake of a clash between the NSUI and ABVP workers.
The ABVP and the NSUI are caught in a three-cornered fight with the Left alliance of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Students Association (AISA).
The 2024 DUSU polls had thrown up a split verdict, with the NSUI and the ABVP clinching two seats each. The NSUI had won the coveted post of president as well as joint secretary, ending its seven-year dry spell at the DUSU’s helm. The NSUI’s Ronak Khatri and Lokesh Choudhary were elected president and joint secretary whereas the ABVP’s Mitravinda Karanwal and Bhanu Pratap Singh were elected secretary and vice-president respectively.